Add some spice to your seafood routine

May 19, 2015

Story By: Serena Valdez | Photos by: NATHALIE WALKER

For nearly two years, Cajun King has made a name for itself as one of the go-to spots for locals to enjoy amazing, finger-lickin’-good seafood — so much so that Kaneohe became home to a second Cajun King location just this past September.

Now, more locals can get down and dirty while eating with their hands and enjoying the Southern Cajun-style seafood the restaurant has to offer.

However, not everything on the menu calls for the roll of paper towels provided at each table in the restaurant. Stop by Cajun King during lunchtime (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and try the Salt and Pepper Shrimp ($8.99) lunch special. The plate comes with 10 perfectly cooked salted and peppered shrimp garnished with green onion, garlic and bell pepper. On the side, enjoy a generous serving of fried rice made with corn, carrots, bacon and egg. Patrons also can substitute the fried rice with steamed white rice.

For Jin Chen, manager of the Kaneohe location, the best options are among Cajun King’s Special Combos. One in particular is Combo No. 3 ($55), which is perfect to share with a friend or two — that is, unless you happen to have a hefty appetite.

The dish presents a bag filled with 4 pounds of steaming-hot crustaceans straight from the pot. Included are crawfish, mussels, shrimp, clams and king crab legs, which are Chen’s all-time favorite for how easy it is to extract crab meat from its long legs. Also cooked with the dish are potatoes, two ears of corn on the cob, Portuguese sausage and rice. Cajun and garlic butter sauce, which can range in spiciness from mild to volcanic, or lemon garlic butter sauce is added to the dish for seasoning.

If you’re in the mood for something light, try a plate of fresh Oysters (half dozen for $14, and a dozen for $28) from the raw bar. The Pacific oysters stay chilled on a bed of ice and are topped with slivers of green onion, ponzu — a citrus shoyu sauce — and bright-orange masago, also known as small capelin fish eggs. Lemon wedges also are served with the plate for added zest.

Although Cajun King is known for the range of seafood it offers, patrons also can find non-seafood items on the menu, including chicken wings, steak and pork chops. There also are dessert options, including ice cream and Fried Bread Pudding Bites ($7).